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Is Colonial Mentality impeding Pakistan’s Progress?
Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds – Marcus Garvey
Pakistan, as the world’s fifth most populous nation with the 13th-largest military (Gulf Times, March 2 2018) and abundant natural resources—gold, copper, salt, coal—has every opportunity to flourish. Yet more than seventy years after independence, it still lags behind its potential. One major reason is the persistence of a colonial mentality across its social and political life.
Before examining Pakistan’s situation, we must define colonial mentality. Under British rule, colonizers lived above local laws, enjoying special privileges and remaining beyond reproach. This created a clear divide between “us” (the British) and “them” (the Indians). That sense of superiority—and the corresponding inferiority it imposed on the local population—is what we call colonial mentality.
Role Of Education in Economic Development
Some analysts see this mindset as the principal cause of Pakistan’s slow progress, arguing that elite families carried British attitudes into Pakistan’s founding to secure social and political dominance. They support their view with several examples:
- Political Culture Political leaders often behave as though they stand above the law, deliberately weakening institutions to avoid accountability. Factionalism—where landlords gather loyal followers—further stalls genuine political growth.
- Bureaucracy Introduced by the British to suppress dissent, the civil service still prioritizes political figures over the public, undermining efficient administration.
- Education System Despite the 1973 Constitution’s call to promote Urdu, most schools continue using English as the main medium. This creates two tiers—government schools in Urdu and private schools in English—leaving capable students from government schools disadvantaged by weak English skills.
- Public Offices Recruitment favors English-proficient candidates. Officials expect special respect and delay project approvals, mirroring the colonial era’s slow, hierarchical processes.
- Religious Affairs The British politicized religion, creating factions among faith leaders. Pakistan inherited this division, and today clergy influence elections, fracturing unity and stalling development initiatives.
- Social Structure Society remains split into elite, middle, and lower classes that rarely mix. These divisions inhibit the national solidarity needed for collective progress.
Effects Of Globalization On Education
However, critics argue that colonial mentality is only one factor. They point to other former colonies—India, China, Hong Kong, Bangladesh—that have advanced more rapidly. Additional obstacles for Pakistan include:
• Political Instability: Nearly thirty years of military rule impeded democratic norms. Leaders lack tolerance, resolving conflicts through strikes rather than in parliament.
• Weak Economic Policies: Appointing finance ministers without economic expertise has doubled external debt over the last decade. The emphasis has been on infrastructure, whereas modern development demands greater investment in education, healthcare, and social services.
• Rapid Population Growth: From 2000 to 2017, the population rose from 138.5 million to over 200.8 million, straining resources and public services.
• High Illiteracy and Unemployment: With a 44 percent illiteracy rate and 5.9 percent unemployment, Pakistan faces serious human-capital challenges.
• Corruption and Brain Drain: Widespread corruption slows progress, while the exodus of skilled professionals further weakens national capacity.
• Slow Industrial Growth: A narrow manufacturing base forces Pakistan to export raw materials cheaply and import finished goods at higher prices, limiting sustainable economic expansion.
Checkered Democratic History Of Pakistan
Since independence, divisions based on ethnicity, language, and culture have fragmented our society. These tensions have sometimes sparked social and political unrest, destroying infrastructure and costing innocent lives. Terrorism and the war on terror have also inflicted billions of dollars in damage to Pakistan’s infrastructure.
Pakistan’s Informal Economy; A Way Forward
This fragmentation into groups and subgroups, combined with a lack of a cooperative federal approach to development, has further slowed the nation’s progress.
In conclusion, while the colonial mindset of both citizens and leaders has undoubtedly held Pakistan back, it is not the only reason for its slow development. Overcoming the legacy of colonial mentality—alongside political, economic, demographic, and institutional challenges—is essential for Pakistan to unlock its full development potential.
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